"You—" Reiner took a step forward, his face flushed with anger.
He reached out a hand to point at Jax, but Jackie, standing behind Jax, grabbed Reiner's outstretched hand and forcefully yanked it. "Don't you dare point, or I'll break your hand."
"Calm down, Reiner," Gunner said steadily, the magnanimity and passion gone from his face as he coldly stared at Jax.
"Captain, this kid is insulting you! He must pay for this!" Reiner growled in a low voice.
Yes, this guy named Jax had made a name for himself on the streets. Everyone knew about his "great deeds"—he had single-handedly invaded a family in the Badlands and wiped them out overnight. No one in Night City wanted to provoke a guy like that; he was a walking disaster.
But that didn't mean he could do whatever he wanted!
After all, how many heads did he have? How many bullets could he take?!
Even if you could withstand pistol bullets, could you withstand sniper rifles or artillery?
So arrogant!
"If you want people to work, don't just talk. No matter how much you say, or how well you beautify your actions, in my eyes, it's all just internal gang conflict. What does 'protecting Santo Domingo' even mean? If you truly cared about the people of Santo Domingo, why don't you go after corporations? Thousands of 6th Street Gang members storming a corporate building—even Militech would have a tough time, wouldn't they?"
Jax calmly looked at Gunner and continued, "Oh, right, I almost forgot how good your relationship with Militech is."
Even if he wasn't a mercenary now, Jax wouldn't bother with Gunner.
He saw the justice of white leftism as a pure trap, just like how the Voodoo Boys used V and then discarded him like a rag. The 6th Street Gang was the same kind of gang when dealing with outsiders.
If the job came from a Fixer and didn't require direct communication with the client, Jax might have taken it after discussing it with Maine and the others.
Although he had an unpleasant history with the 6th Street Gang, jobs from Fixers usually avoided such annoying troubles. There would be no contact with the client at any stage of the mission, nor any communication after completion.
Ultimately, even mercenaries have their own stances. Take the legendary mercenary, Sae Yidai, one of the Ten Lone Wolves; he was a solo mercenary who specialized in taking down Arasaka.
He would sabotage jobs issued by Arasaka and take on jobs against Arasaka without asking for a price. Sometimes, he'd even do it for free. But could you say Sae Yidai lacked professional ethics?
He was simply following his heart.
"If we were to give you this commission, how much would you charge?" Gunner looked at Jax and asked.
Although he was a Captain and a big boss in the 6th Street Gang, Gunner belonged to the gang's investigation department. He didn't have enough people under him, and they weren't strong enough.
For example, Magus, a Lieutenant, dared to withhold his share. This shows that Gunner's current situation in the 6th Street Gang was indeed very bad.
Therefore, a direct conflict with Magus would also be troublesome for him, which is why he thought of Jax. But he didn't expect… Jax didn't fall for his tricks at all.
He even pointed out that Jax and his crew lived in Santo Domingo, which actually carried a hint of threat, and he tried to win him over with the 6th Street Gang's friendship, but the other party didn't care about the 6th Street Gang's friendship at all.
Jax glanced at Gunner, then reached up and placed two fingers on the small silver ring at his temple, making a call.
A moment later, the call connected.
"Hello?"
"Yes, Rogue, it's me. I have something I want to ask you."
Gunner's eyes widened instantly, and behind him, Reiner, who had been agitated and angry just moments before, also gaped.
Who was this guy calling?
Ro—Rogue?!
Was it the Rogue they knew?
"No, I'm resting these past few days and haven't planned on taking any jobs. Of course, if you have something, you can send it over for us to look at."
Jax said seriously, "I came to you to ask you something."
Gunner quickly fell silent.
He was a powerful mercenary himself, and he also had this connection to Rogue…
Could they lay a hand on him?
The answer, of course, was yes, but it would have to be done in secret.
To openly pressure Jax would be to slap Rogue in the face, and in Night City, even some corporate executives had to give Rogue face, let alone gangs… that went without saying.
Rogue didn't participate in gang wars, but that didn't mean she was afraid of Night City's gangs.
Ultimately, Rogue only needed a word and some money thrown around, and countless mercenaries would come to her aid.
The Queen of the Afterlife, the baddest Fixer in Night City—did they really think that was just a saying?
In the game, V's Sun ending, becoming the King of the City, was truly because V and Johnny, with Rogue, attacked Arasaka and destroyed Arasaka's Night City branch. But taking over the Afterlife, possessing immense wealth and prestige, was also one of the reasons.
Therefore, for Gunner, Rogue was one of the most dazzling figures of that era.
Moreover, don't think Rogue only relied on mercenaries. As someone who lived through the Red Era, Gunner knew very well how formidable that woman, Rogue, could be. If she wished, she would have a place among the Ten Legendary Lone Wolves.
"Someone wants to hire me to take out a member of the 6th Street Gang, a guy named Magus. If I take this job, how much would be appropriate?"
After a moment, Jax glanced at Gunner and said, "Excluding the Fixer's fee, at least six hundred thousand?"
"Alright, I understand. Thanks. See you at the Afterlife later." Jax finished speaking and hung up the phone.
Then, Jax looked at Gunner and said, "Did you hear that? If you want us to take this job, you'll have to pay at least six hundred thousand."
Gunner remained silent about this.
Six hundred thousand… Honestly, he couldn't afford that much money.
The 6th Street Gang was currently in conflict with two major Night City gangs, the Valentinos in Heywood and the Tyger Claws in Charter Hill. If it weren't for Militech's support, the 6th Street Gang would have already been at a disadvantage in this gang war.
Combined with Gunner's awkward position within the gang, he simply couldn't come up with six hundred thousand.
This was also why he wanted to get it for free…
Then, the security robot suddenly spoke, playing the voice of the doctor treating Gloria.
"Ms. Gloria Martinez has fully recovered after treatment. Ms. Martinez's family, please come to the capsule hall on the fourth floor immediately. She will wake up soon."
"Again, Ms. Gloria Martin…"
Jax first looked at David, who seemed to let out a sigh of relief, his tightly strung nerves finally relaxing.
Then, Jax looked at Gunner.
"When you have money, then come talk about your dream of protecting Santo Domingo."
With that, Jax turned and left, David quickly following.
Gunner stood rooted to the spot, silently watching Jax's retreating back.